Ja mom could be charged

Police investigators are questioning the mother of a seven-month-old baby who died in a fire in Cassava Piece, St Andrew, Monday evening.

“We are going to question her but from what we have found so far, she could be charged,” Deputy Superintendent Altemoth ‘Paro’ Campbell told The Gleaner yesterday, hours after the police took the mother into custody.

According to Campbell, the woman’s lawyer was not available yesterday and this forced the police to delay the questioning.

It is understood that the 19-year-old mother, whose name is being withheld, said she was in a kitchen in the yard at the time fire engulfed the one-bedroom house in Cassava Piece.

However, her claim is being questioned by residents who allege that she was not there when seven-month-old Melvin Henry and two-year-old Fredrina Clarke were trapped by the flames.

The residents say about 7:30 Monday evening, fire was seen coming from the bedroom and an alarm was raised.

The father of one of the children, Dwayne Clarke, rushed into the burning building and managed to rescue Fredrina, but thick smoke prevented him from finding little Melvin, who perished in the flames.

Fredrina received severe burns while her father received minor burns. They were taken to hospital where Fredrina was admitted in serious condition and her father treated.